Glimpses of the World Cup
Article: Agha Akbar's diary vol 2 from WC2003
Agha Akbar
17-Feb-2003
The Plight of the Proteas
The Proteas entered the World Cup 2003 as runaway favourites along with the Aussies. While Australia's campaign to retain the trophy (despite the disqualification of their leading wicket-taker in Shane Warne) is pretty much on course after it tamed the two sub-continental giants to be certain for qualification for the Super Sixes, Proteas have neither been as lucky nor nearly as awesome.
The Proteas entered the World Cup 2003 as runaway favourites along with the Aussies. While Australia's campaign to retain the trophy (despite the disqualification of their leading wicket-taker in Shane Warne) is pretty much on course after it tamed the two sub-continental giants to be certain for qualification for the Super Sixes, Proteas have neither been as lucky nor nearly as awesome.
Having lost to the West Indies in a tight opening match and despite putting 306 on the board, they were rather conveniently brushed aside by the resurgent Black Caps, by nine wickets. Such was the resolve of the Kiwi skipper, Stephen Fleming, whose run-a-ball unbeaten 134 stole the thunder from a devastating Herschelle Gibbs (143) effort. Though South Africa could again blame rain and the Duckworth-Lewis formula for their demise, yet it is indeed debatable whether the absence of rain would have made a difference.
Anyway, South Africa's cup of woes is now brimful. They need to win all their matches, and even that would not be enough, for they would still be dependent on the West Indian largesse for survival. That is because only if the Caribbeans win their encounter against Sri Lanka in Cape Town on February 28 would the Proteas be able to progress to the round-robin Super Sixes.
Can it get tougher than that?
But teams painted in a corner have survived such odds and gone ahead to capture glory. Remember Pakistan in 1992, and Australia in 1999? But the problem with the Proteas is that they have been unable to conquer self-doubt, and unless they do so, they wouldn't be able to subdue opponents who matter.
But teams painted in a corner have survived such odds and gone ahead to capture glory. Remember Pakistan in 1992, and Australia in 1999? But the problem with the Proteas is that they have been unable to conquer self-doubt, and unless they do so, they wouldn't be able to subdue opponents who matter.
Fleming shows the way
Well, this skipper is one of a handful leading from the front. Stephen Fleming's never say die spirit saw the Springboks humbled in the Wanderers bullring with the third innings in a week that had written greatness on it, following those of Andrew Symonds 143 and Herschelle Gibbs' identical score in the first innings of the match. But unlike Pakistan which had thrown in the towel after conceding 310, the Black Caps captain facing 306, refused to cave in, and as a result carved a niche for himself as the scorer of one of the great winning knocks at the World Cup. His unbeaten 134 sank the Proteas rather deep - an outcome after which they are gasping for survival.
No longer the Lightning
Allan Donald, the great white fast bowler of the 1990s who had earned the sobriquet of 'White Lightning', is no longer the threat that he used to be. In this World Cup, after which he is likely to bow out of the game along with a galaxy of stars, he has been treated with complete lack of respect. His 5.5 overs in the crucial game against the Black Caps on Sunday went for 52 runs; the Windies too had plundered 54 runs off his nine overs. No wonder, there were calls for the axing of the spent up lightning.
Allan Donald, the great white fast bowler of the 1990s who had earned the sobriquet of 'White Lightning', is no longer the threat that he used to be. In this World Cup, after which he is likely to bow out of the game along with a galaxy of stars, he has been treated with complete lack of respect. His 5.5 overs in the crucial game against the Black Caps on Sunday went for 52 runs; the Windies too had plundered 54 runs off his nine overs. No wonder, there were calls for the axing of the spent up lightning.
Shoaib has no peers in pace
With wickets coming thick and fast as Namibia collapsed to 9 for 42 before being bowled out for 84, few noticed that one of Shoaib Akhtar's deliveries was recorded at 159.1 kmh (about 99 mph) - by far the fastest delivery bowled in this World Cup. When Shoaib had bowled at 161 kmh against the Black Caps last year, instead of being hailed for breaking the 100 mph barrier, questions were raised, on the lines of whether the speed gun used in the match was good enough. While Akhtar says he is eschewing speed for the sake of accuracy in this World Cup, 99 mph with a 'reliable' speed gun shows that he has no peers in pace.
With wickets coming thick and fast as Namibia collapsed to 9 for 42 before being bowled out for 84, few noticed that one of Shoaib Akhtar's deliveries was recorded at 159.1 kmh (about 99 mph) - by far the fastest delivery bowled in this World Cup. When Shoaib had bowled at 161 kmh against the Black Caps last year, instead of being hailed for breaking the 100 mph barrier, questions were raised, on the lines of whether the speed gun used in the match was good enough. While Akhtar says he is eschewing speed for the sake of accuracy in this World Cup, 99 mph with a 'reliable' speed gun shows that he has no peers in pace.
Lying in wait for India
Liable to shoot his mouth with speed matching his fearsome thunderbolts, Shoaib Akhtar says that he is lying in wait for India. "I am anticipating the duel with the Indian batsmen, and I know that I would prevail over them". You may call it a psychological ploy or the usual Akhtar hyperbole. But the fact is that when Pakistan takes on its arch-rival for the first time in nearly three years at the Centurian on March 1, the same venue where India was buried by Aussie pace, there would be concern in the Indian ranks about Akhtar's speed and Akram's wiles.
Liable to shoot his mouth with speed matching his fearsome thunderbolts, Shoaib Akhtar says that he is lying in wait for India. "I am anticipating the duel with the Indian batsmen, and I know that I would prevail over them". You may call it a psychological ploy or the usual Akhtar hyperbole. But the fact is that when Pakistan takes on its arch-rival for the first time in nearly three years at the Centurian on March 1, the same venue where India was buried by Aussie pace, there would be concern in the Indian ranks about Akhtar's speed and Akram's wiles.